It is not uncommon for grandparents to play an active role in the lives of not only their children, but also their grandchildren. This can create complications, however, when relationships between a child’s parents sour, in which case, grandparents could find themselves barred from seeing their grandchildren. Recognizing that the grandparent-grandchild relationship can have significant repercussions on a child, Illinois courts are willing to address grandparent visitation during custody proceedings. These kinds of proceedings do, however, require familiarity with specific aspects of Illinois law, so if you are seeking visitation with your grandchild or believe that visitation would not be in your child’s best interests, it is important to speak with an experienced Lombard, IL grandparents’ rights attorney who can walk you through your legal options.

Grandparent Visitation

Parents have certain rights when it comes to their children. In most cases, courts are not allowed to interfere with these rights unless a child is being harmed. There are exceptions, however, to this general rule, in which case a court could be willing to step in and order visitation with a child’s grandparents. This is only an option when the grandparent in question is able to demonstrate that visitation is in a child’s best interests.

Besides being emotionally draining, getting divorced can take a significant toll on a couple’s finances. Fortunately, there are steps that divorcing parties can take to reduce their post-divorce finance-related concerns. Most couples are, for instance, urged to immediately begin accounting for their assets and expenses, both to ensure that any property settlements are fair, but also to help uncover any evidence of marital waste or fraud on the part of one of the spouses. To learn more about the financial aspects of divorce, please reach out to one of our experienced DuPage County divorce lawyers today.

Inventory Bank Accounts

Property division is one of the most difficult aspects of many divorces, especially for couples who have unique or valuable assets. One of the best ways to avoid an unfair property settlement and later financial stress (upon divorce) is for couples to start compiling their financial information, including all bank, retirement, and investment accounts. The parties should be sure to keep copies of important documentation, like bank statements that can help keep track of both individuals’ balances, regular deposits, and withdrawals. Re-inventorying these accounts regularly during divorce proceedings is also a good idea and can go a long way towards safeguarding assets and preventing marital waste.

Many couples breathe a sigh of relief upon the finalization of their divorces, believing that their legal problems are now over. This, however, is not always the case, especially for couples who share custody of a child. In fact, it is more likely than not that a family will eventually need to re-address their parenting plan to account for a change in circumstances, like a new job, or even just a child’s changing needs. These changes must, however, be accompanied by compliance with specific steps, especially if one or both of a child’s parents want to relocate. For help ensuring that your own child’s best interests are protected during a potential relocation, please call our experienced Lombard, IL child custody and parental responsibility lawyers today.

Relocation by Agreement

Parents who share parenting time equally, or who have been allocated the majority of parenting time can attempt to relocate with their child, but must abide by certain rules. The parent who wishes to relocate must, for instance, give written notice at least 60 days before the move to the child’s other parent and must also submit that notice to the circuit court. These notices must contain certain information, including:

The charges a person will face when they are accused of driving under the influence will largely depend on their prior criminal record. Specifically, any prior DUI convictions the accused has on their record will be considered. However, the courts will only look back on a certain period of time when determining the sentence for someone convicted of a DUI. This is known as the lookback period.

Typical time frames for loopback periods in other states are five to ten years, and when a person has a DUI conviction that occurred before that period, the court will not consider it. So, does Illinois place a lookback period on DUI cases?

Divorces that involve children have many more complex issues than cases that do not. It is natural for parents to first become concerned with child custody issues, but child support is another contentious issue that must be addressed. Divorce is already an expensive process which is made even more costly when one spouse learns they will have to pay child support. Some people may want to avoid paying child support so much that they take drastic measures such as quitting their job. In these cases, their former spouse is typically left wondering if that is even allowed.

While no one can force someone to go to work every day, there are measures you can take if your former spouse is refusing to pay child support. A Lombard family lawyer can help ensure you receive the payments you are owed.